GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Sean Pender’s expression said it all.
The first-year North Hall coach could do little but sigh and shake his head after walking off the field following the Trojans’ 38-20 loss to Walnut Grove Friday night in both teams’ Region 8-4A openers at The Brickyard.
The frustrating part was that the North Hall offense did not commit a turnover or have any bad snaps, which had plagued them in their first two games. This time, it was the defense, which gave up five touchdowns and a field goal out of six Walnut Grove drives that did not end at a half.
“Defensively, it’s the worst game we’ve played. We couldn’t get off the field. They just outplayed us. I feel we’re better than that on defense. I’m very disappointed,” Pender said.
North Hall (0-3, 0-1 Region 8-4A) gave up 465 yards of offense, 390 on the ground, and did not force a turnover. The offense piled up 270 yards but most of that came after the Warriors (3-0, 1-0 Region 8-4A) had built a pair of big leads.
“Offensively, we did some good things but we’ve got to finish drives. That’s pretty much about it,” Pender said.
Walnut Grove, which is 3-0 for the first time in program history, showed it is perhaps no fluke.
The Warriors got going early as quarterback Ashton Adams powered the opening drive with 30 yards rushing and one pass for 27 yards before Emadd Howard finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown run. After a North Hall punt, Adams blasted 61 yards on the second play to make it 14-0 less than seven minutes in.
North Hall looked to get its first break when the Warriors muffed a punt with the Trojans recovering at the Walnut Grove 12. But it was overturned.
“The refs said we touched it but it didn’t look that way from where we were. We didn’t get that and that was a big momentum changer, especially after they got that big run,” Pender said.
The Warriors didn’t waste the opportunity. Howard later broke through the North Hall defense and sprinted 53 yards for a score to push the lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter.
North Hall finally got its offense going to halt the Warriors’ momentum. The Trojans converted three third-down plays and one fourth down, a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Tanner Marsh to cap a 69-yard drive that took 6:30 to cut the gap to 21-7 with just under three minutes left in the half.
Even with the long scoring drive, the Trojans offense managed just 82 total yards -- 59 rushing and just 23 passing -- in the first half.
North Hall got the start it wanted in the second half taking the first drive of the third quarter 80 yards, with Tate Ruth capping it on an electrifying 36-yard touchdown run to cut it to 21-13.
“We felt pretty good right there,” Pender said.
But Walnut Grove answered back quickly. Adams connected with Avery Schnier on a 24-yard TD pass three minutes later for a 28-13 lead. The Warriors defense then held the Trojans on downs at the Walnut Grove 21. Two plays later Adams struck again, sprinting 78 yards for a score and a 35-13 lead.
Walnut Grove added a 32-yard field goal from Brendan Hamrick and North Hall got a 46-yard touchdown pass from Marsh to Ryals Puryear to cut it to 38-20 but the Trojans could get no closer.
Adams finished with 214 yards rushing and 75 yards passing on a 4-for-4 performance.
Ruth had 86 yards to pace the North hall ground game. Marsh finished 14-of-22 for 148 yards and 1 TD pass.
SCORING SUMMARY
Walnut Grove....14....7....14....3 -- 38
North Hall............0....7.....7.....7 -- 20
First Quarter
W -- Howard 2 run (Hamrick kick) 7-0, 7:06
W -- Adams 61 run (Hamrick kick) 14-0, 4:15
Second Quarter
W -- Howard 53 run (Hamrick kick) 21-0, 9:26
N -- Marsh 1 run (Reyes kick) 21-7, 2:56
Third Quarter
N -- Ruth 36 run (kick failed) 21-13, 9:35
W -- Schnier 24 pass from Adams (Hamrick kick) 28-13, 9:26
W -- Adams 78 run (Hamrick kick) 35-13, 4:15
Fourth Quarter
W -- Hamrick 32 FG 38-13, 6:14
N -- Puryear 46 pass from Marsh (Reyes kick) 38-20, 3:15
